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Off the Beaten Path in Playa del Carmen
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Playa del Carmen Travel Guide

Off the Beaten Path in Playa del Carmen

Side Street - Playa del Carmen
Side Street
by kyoub
Tips and photos of unusual, out-of-the-way Playa del Carmen attractions, posted by real travelers and locals.
Local Time 5:54 pm Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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Popular Off the Beaten Path | Other Off the Beaten Path Tips | All Tips (38)
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Visit the Cenotes
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  • Cenotes near Playa de Carmen - Playa del Carmen
    Cenotes near Playa de Carmen
    by travelgirl3
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    A short walk across the highway from the Barcelo Resort brings you to Kantun Chi, a small park with 5 or 6 cenotes. Cenotes are sinkholes within the limestone and are very common on the Yucatan peninsula. For the admission price of around $8, you can wander around and even go in swimming or snorkelling in the cenotes. The water is extremely clear. Be sure to visit the (very) small Aztec ruins there as well.

    At the end of the trail, there is a snack bar, as well as a souvenir 'booth' set up at the entrance. When we went, a young boy showed us a snake in a bucket, and offered to take it out for a few pesos. We declined, but still gave him the money.

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    Sian Kan Biosphere
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  • You have to take a boat here. And you can catch one just inside the ruins at Myuil, south of Tulum. 25 dollars a person a guide will take you though the huge lagoons and narrow canals used by the Maya to tranport goods about a zillion years ago.
    It's a small boat. We did see a crocodile. Maybe he was guarding a temple..ONLY ACCESSIBLE BY BOAT!

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    Shipwreck Site
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  • A spanish ship sank in this area over a hundred years ago and some people still search for beads and gems and find them. Do not go expecting to discover a bounty. I found one bead and one gem.

    This beach is directly across the highway from the Aktun Chen Cenote but is hard to get to due to the HUGE hotel that wants you to buy a day pass to walk though the lobby. You can walk around it, but it's quite a walk.

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    Ruins at Coba
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  • Everyone goes to Chichen Itza and climbs the Castillo. How about Coba, where you can climb an even TALLER one?
    Coba has not been as fully restored as Chichen Itza nor has it been cleared of all jungle yet so you take paths (oh please rent a bike to do this) to each area. In the end you can climb the tallest castle in the Yucatan.

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    Yal-Ku Crocodile.
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  • It's a beautiful lagoon, in the north end of Akumel and is much smaller than Xel-Ha, and much cheaper. About 6 bucks a person. Don't expect food and lockers to store your things. The only place to lounge is on the rocks, although there are a few benches too. What a bad time to be without a water camera.
    Lots of fish, especially around the staircases to the water There are a few islands too. We were watching an Egret on one of the small islands, when my boyfriend noticed, and pointed out to me, what he believed to be an iguana. UM, it wasn't an iguana...it was a 4 foot long CROCODILE. The bird made a slow exit and we were transfixed, with awe and with trepidation. How could there be a CROCODILE not 15 feet away from us?? Not wanting to turn our backs, we told the few other swimmers about it, and no one wanted to get as close as we did. The croc sometimes bared his teeth, sometimes closed his mouth, but never moved. Lucky for us. We just have to believe that this is not an every day event at Yal-Ku but please be aware of it. Upon telling the managers, they spoke among themselves, asked its size and then told us that he never bothered anybody. I have a hard time believing anyone has trained a croc...this is no way ruined my day, it was quite exiting, but we did get out of the water after another 10 minutes of nervous snorkeling.

    Update August 2005..
    We have heard of one other person who saw a croc right around the same time as we did.
    It has been reported that it was relocated

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    Away from the crowd at Akumal Cove
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  • The further south you drive, the less popuated it becomes. Yet you would hardly know this due to the huge facades on the highway announcing that you have reached another sprawling development. In Akumal there are a lot of houses, a few hotels and one of the nicest beaches between Playa Del Carmen and Tulum.
    The water was warm, the people were all so HAPPY. There was a family, a couple and two sons aged possibly 6-10 who simply snuggled with each other as they stared at the ocean. No ice chests, no towels, no fighting, just the four of them together. They must have sat like that,changing positions for an hour. It was one of the nicest things I have ever seen. Maybe they were always like that, but I owe some of it o the beach.

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    A view down the stairs at Coba
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  • Here's the stair case you climb to the top, and with more difficulty to the bottom. With a little bit more difficulty if you have a fear of heights or falling. I have both! Yet with the help of that rope down the middle, I made it.
    Chances are excellent you can too!

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    Side streets
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  • Get off of the plaza and walk around some of the side streets.
    It is best to explore on foot, as the narrow dirt roads, run in a confusinmg one way pattern and parking is nonexistant.
    Stroll down to the lighthouse, which is now a hotel. There are also some small budget hotels in this area.

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    Swim with the Dolphins
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  • Now's your chance to play, frolick and swim with these docile and loving creatures. Right next door to the Adventura Place is Puerto Aventura, a 10 minute walk from your hotel door to the Dolphins playground. During your 45 minute stint with the dolphins you'll learn how to handle them and where and where not to hang when the Dolphins pull you through the water or you use them as water ski's. Now that's fun. The Dolphins will come up and give you a hug and a kiss and if they take a liking to you will give you an extra long kiss. After the various stunts that you perform with the Dolphins, you have 15 minutes to just play with them. They will come up beside you & rub you, let you kiss them again and if your lucky enough get the opportunity to grab their dorsel fin and go for another ride. The Dolphin swim is the memory of a lifetime and 1 you should not miss. In order to keep your memories alive at the end of your 45 mins with the Dolphins you will have a chance to purchase the video made of you and your cohorts or purchase the still photos. I highly recommend buying the Video/DVD....these people put it together like a movie, credits and everything! So while your down Playa Del Carmen's way...go play with the Dolphins. The cost is nominal for one of the most thrilling 45 minutes of your life. $99.00

  • Website: http://www.cancunvista.com/puerto_aventura/dolphin_swim_adventure.htm
  • Other Contact: Make a reservation via their web
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    Great, quieter beach and café
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  • Between Playa del Carmen and Tulum is a beautiful, low-key beach and cafe. To get there you have to go along an unpaved road that runs along the north wall of the Copacabana resort off the main highway. The cafe food is really good, but a bit expensive. The beach is priceless.

    Xpu-Ha Beach, Mexico, X-4

  • Phone: 984 873 2194
  • Website: www.xpuhahotel.com/restaurantbar
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    More Playa del Carmen Tips
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    Off the Beaten Path
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